Blog

  • |

    How To Make Transitions Easier With ADHD

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Follow-Through, Blog

    Note: This article was originally published in December 2023 and fully updated in August 2025. Transitions can be tricky for ADHD brains, and they’re rarely just one step. This post walks you through the whole cycle, from stopping to navigating the in-between, and starting again. So you can learn how to make each part easier. I know this is long! This is a deep dive, about a 15-minute read. You can read it all at once. Or jump to the section you need most right now. Why Do ADHD Adults Struggle With Transitions What Is a Transition With ADHD? A transition isn’t just a moment of switching. It’s a process. It involves stopping one thing, navigating the space in between, and then starting something else with…

  • |

    ADHD and Slow Processing: What Helps in the Moment

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Communication, Blog

    Do you have moments when, in a meeting, a one-on-one conversation, or a social or business gathering, or when you feel like you’re not processing the information as quickly as you would like? For example, a common challenge I hear from many Adults with ADHD I work with is, “When I’m in the middle of a conversation or meeting, I just can not seem to put it all together and figure out how to contribute. Often, I don’t think of what I want to say until after it is over. I feel so stupid!” If you have similar thoughts, you might then spiral into shame. And think you are just not that intelligent. You may then become distracted by these thoughts and feelings. This distraction…

  • |

    ADHD Burnout Recovery: How to Do It Successfully

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Emotional Regulation, Blog

    When in the middle of ADHD burnout, you may think to yourself, “I’ve been holding it together for so long that I’m running on fumes. But I’m not sure how to turn this around? And I’ve tried…” In Part 1, What ADHD Burnout Really Feels Like—and Looks Like, I offered the first step in recovering from burnout. Now in Part 2 are time-tested ADHD burnout recovery strategies that have worked for others and can work for you, too. First, a heads-up. When you’re burnt out, it’s hard to think creatively about how to get on an even keel again.  So don’t expect yourself to do it all at once. See if there’s one small step you can take to begin turning this around. And then,…

  • |

    What ADHD Burnout Really Feels Like and Looks Like

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Emotional Regulation, Blog

    If you’re dealing with ADHD burnout, and lately everything feels harder, it might be more than your usual run-of-the-mill tiredness. I was on Zoom with a client the other day, and she looked tired, for sure. But it was more than that. She seemed worn out and discouraged. So when I asked about a project she’d hoped to move forward with, she closed her eyes, put her hand to her forehead, and said, “No… I didn’t do that.” I could tell she felt like she was letting herself down. Now, no doubt, she was still doing a lot, still functioning on the outside. But inside, she was running on empty. What Exactly Is Burnout? Before we go further, let’s just make sure we’re talking about…

  • |

    ChatGPT and ADHD: A Surprisingly Good Match

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Tools & Strategies, Blog

    I know that as an adult with ADHD, you’ve likely tried countless ADHD tools promising to make your life easier — but often, learning how to use them ends up feeling like more work than it’s worth. So when you hear about ChatGPT, an AI chatbot that’s all over the news, it’s totally normal to wonder: I hear you. Before you decide, hear me out—because ChatGPT might just be the flexible kind of help you need, especially if you’re willing to approach it with an experimental mindset. What is ChatGPT — Really? Think of ChatGPT as a chat buddy who can help you brainstorm, plan, draft emails, organize your scattered thoughts, and more. It’s not magic or judgmental — it’s just a tool that responds…

  • |

    Job Interviewing With ADHD: Practical Strategies for Success

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD in the Workplace, Blog

    Navigating job interviews can be challenging for anyone, no doubt. However, as an adult with ADHD, you might face unique hurdles, such as difficulties organizing your thoughts and managing your time effectively. But once you know what your challenges are, you can adopt the strategies you need to have a successful interview. Really! Understanding the ADHD Interview Experience First, a little more about what some of your ADHD-related challenges might be. Adults with ADHD may find interviews particularly taxing due to difficulties with attention regulation, impulsivity, and working memory. What this can mean, for example, is that you might forget key points, interrupt the interviewer, or struggle to stay on topic. In addition, if emotional dysregulation is one of your challenges, you may become anxious…

  • |

    Ready To Manage Your Frustration Better?

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Emotional Regulation, Blog

    One of the executive function challenges for adults with ADHD is “managing frustration and modulating your emotions”. So, well, of course, there are many reasons you may get frustrated, understanding and addressing your frustration as a symptom of ADHD is key to making this better. A former client even asked whether it was “possible for frustration not to be their dominant emotion.” The answer is, yes, of course, but it will take time and skill-building. Right now, you may become angry and frustrated much more easily and quicker than your neurotypical peers. The key to addressing this is to both honor those feelings and act in a way that is in sync with your values. Come along as we go on a journey to get…

  • Are These 5 Decision-Making Traps Keeping You Stuck?

    ByMarla Cummins Blog

    Making decisions is one of the executive challenges for ADHD Adults. Do you have a hard time with decision-making?  Let’s look at the example of a former client, who emailed me a description of his difficulties making decisions (posted below with permission). I’m really struggling to make any decisions in almost any scenario. Like, choosing between 2 things, choosing to get rid of something. I get a sense of panic/anxiety, as well as a sense of frustration. Logic makes no difference. The magnitude of the decision makes no difference. Trust in someone else to “make” the decision makes little difference (I still have to pull the trigger). When I do make the decision, I hold my nose, squelch the butterflies and just do it on…

  • |

    8 Strategies To Use To Make Executing Easier

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Follow-Through, Blog

    When you have ADHD, starting and executing can be difficult, no doubt. But these are also skills that can be learned. Though it takes time. Are you ready for the ride? It will be a combination of strategies and skills that you build. So, you can get unstuck and back on track faster when you’re having a hard time getting started and following through. Know Your Why While certainly not the only strategy, it is important to know why accomplishing a task is important to you. At the same time, it is true that for many adults with ADHD, you may still have a hard time starting a task, even if it is important, if it is not intrinsically interesting to you. So, in the…

  • |

    How To Plan A Productive Day With ADHD

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Follow-Through, Blog

    How do you plan your days so you are sure you are working toward your goals in alignment with your values? I know that is what you want to do. But right now, you may start each day wondering how you are going to get “everything.” Then, at the end of the day, you may feel like you didn’t get enough done. Some days you may even feel like you didn’t get anything done! It’s frustrating to start and end your day like this, for sure. What Does The Beginning Of Your Day Look Like? Maybe you start your day by stopping for coffee on the way to work. You get to the office, maybe a little later than you planned. The first thing you…